1 to 1 Devices

Newcastle Elementary School District is excited to continue our 1:1 digital platform for the 2017-2018 school year. Please use this page to help address your questions and to learn more about our device policies and information.

This school year, we will be providing the following devices to each student:

Grades TK-1 Access to shared cart of grade level iPads

Grades 2-3 Personal iPads for school use

Grades 4-5 Personal iPads for school and home use

Grades 6-8 Personal Chromebooks for school and home use

Why 1:1 Technology?

NESD believes student use of digital tools, such as iPads and Chromebooks, personalize learning, improve engagement, and advance important technical and organizational skills. To meet the demands of 21st Century Skills and the Common Core, students must be able to navigate a technology rich environment. Individual and classroom sets of devices provide students a powerful tool to accomplish what's expected of them as they advance their learning. Additionally, much of our curriculum is accessed digitally.

Students are expected to have their iPads/Chromebooks charged and ready to go every day.

Limited charging stations will be available on campus.

INSURANCE:

You are responsible for the care and condition of your device. If you lose or damage it, you will be responsible for its replacement. If there are circumstances beyond your control that led to the loss, school officials, in consultation with your parent(s) will make the final determination as to financial responsibility and liability. For the 2017-2018 school year, iPad replacement is approximately $600 and Chromebook replacement is approximately $230.

Covers are required on the iPad devices and highly recommended (but not required) on the Chromebooks.

iPad Covers:

4th and 5th grade students will be issued an iPad mini. Each family is required to provide a cover, prior to taking the device home, for his/her iPad that provides protection and must meet the following standards:

Reinforced corners which are covered and protected (hard rubberized corners may provide

added protection if it is dropped

A front cover which can be secured with a clasp, magnet or elastic strap

Back and front are protected from dirt, scratches, and breakage

A screen protector for added scratch protection

Encases all four corners of the device and should “snap” into the corners of the case (cases that

only snap into two corners or slide into elastic or leather bands in the corner still leave the

corner exposed, making it more likely to be damaged if dropped)

Cover recommendations: A sleeve, in addition to the case, may provide extra protection. A case with a keyboard may be helpful. Apple’s Smart Covers ARE NOT recommended.

Chromebooks covers are highly recommended for the 2017-2018 school year, but not required. School issued Chromebooks are HP Chromebook 11 G4 and covers must fit this specific device. Neoprene, padded, or protective sleeves may also reduce the chance of damage while the Chromebook is in a backpack.

When devices are at school and on the NESD network, internet access is filtered and inappropriate content is blocked. However, when the device is used at home or on a public WiFi network, students have unrestricted access to the internet. Parents with a home wireless network can filter it by installing special filtering software (such as OpenDNS Home and OpenDNS Family Shield which are free, or SafeEyes and NetNanny which can be purchased). Many cell phone and cable providers also offer filtering solutions. There is a wealth of information online about the power of media and Internet safety. Common Sense Media is one of the best sources and their lessons and curriculum are used in the classroom. While our students are young, most seem to have tech-savviness beyond their years. Please be aware of what your student is doing online.

APPS ON THE DEVICE:

The application programs, or apps, that NESD provides for students on the iPad or Chromebook must be accessible at all times. NESD may remove an app from your iPad after you are done using it so that the license may be used elsewhere. All apps installed must follow the Acceptable Use agreement signed at the beginning of the year. NESD approval must be given by the classroom teacher or the district before any apps are installed. NESD reserves the right to remove an inappropriate app, student apps that may be using valuable space needed for educational activities, or apps installed without permission. Chromebook apps may only be installed with the direction of the teacher.

Occasionally, apps and the operating systems require updates that keep the device functioning properly and securely. Students are expected to follow district directions on installing any app and operating system update.

iPads and Chromebooks are NESD property. NESD staff members have access to internet history, photos, and other information on the device at any time. Students are required to unlock the device upon request of the district staff. If the student does not unlock the device when asked, the student may receive behavior consequences in accordance with the Student Handbook. All devices are scanned remotely on a regular basis to ensure that security settings have not been changed or deleted. If a student has accessed the internal parts of the iPad or Chromebook or changed the settings, he or she will be assigned a behavior consequence in accordance with the Student Handbook.

BYOD:

Students are allowed to bring personal devices to campus, whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, Surface, Kindle, or Nook. This is what is referred to as a “bring your own device” learning environment. As with the iPads and Chromebooks, students take full responsibility for keeping their devices secure and are asked to use it appropriately and only at appropriate times. Each teacher determines whether it is appropriate to use a digital device in his/her class.